Electrical connecter



Oct.'27, 1936. F. MARQUART ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Aug. 13, 195o m K.w E N ..0 10Q W A. @m w N WM W f SQ m 6 `Patented Oct. 2,7, `1936 i NUNITED STATES PATENT fol-FICE I i ELECTRICAL CONNECTER.

, Frank Marquart, Cleveland, Ohio Application `August 13, 1930, SerialNo. 70,911

' 9 claims. (c1. 173-328) My inventionparticularly relates to means ofthis character adapted to provide water-proof and weather-proofconnections which are not subject to injury by dropping or contact withany hard object, which do not expose live wires and, are not otherwisevdangerousor subject to short circuits, which lend themselves to simpleand` cheap production and quick attachment or detachment, and which arevery durable. My invention also includes .an improved coupling ymemberfor detachably securing an electrical connecter to a conducting wire,although -no claims are included in this application to4 theparticularcoupling improvements. Although my improvements are applicableto all fields where electrical connecters of the described nature areused, these improvements nd their largest ileld of usefulness inactivities requiring rather frequent connection and disconnection ofconnecter parts or rei-arrangement of conductors with which theconnecters co-operate, such. as connections for lifting magnets, cranes,electric tractors, addition of new batteries, replacementlof oldbatteries, etc. Y

The annexed drawing and the `following dev scription 'set forth indetail certain means embodying my invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but two of the various forms in which theprinciple of the invention maybe m illustrated.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a complete connecter embodying theseveralelements of my invention and including two of my coupling mem-Figure 2 is a broken axial section, taken in the vplane indicated by theline 2-2, Figure 3, and upon an enlarged scale, of a portion of theelements shown in Figure 1, this view illustrating substantially theentire improvement, inasmuch as the omitted elements lare eitherduplicates or parts of continuous conducting members which do not diierfrom those actually shown in this figure;

Figure 3 is a transverse section, taken in the planeindicated by theline 3 3, Figure 2;

Figure' 4 is an axial section of two detached parts of 4the improvedcoupling member forming part of my invention;

Figure 51s an axial section of the two parts of the improved connecter,the two parts being shown in detached condition;

- Figure 6 is a fragmentary axial section of the cOnnectershOWn inFigure 2, this section being taken, howeverfin the plane indicated bythe line 6 0, Figure 3; Figures 7 and 8 are end elevations taken',respectively, from the planesindicated by the lines I 'l-'l ancla- 0,Figure 5; 6

Figure 9 is an end view, similar to Figure 7, of a socket membersuitable for a three-wire conductor; and

Figure l0 is a view, similar to Figure 8, of a plug suitable for athree-wirer conductor and 10 adapted to cooperate with the socket membershown in Figure 9, these Figures 9 and 10 embodying thesame improvementsas those shown in Figure 5 with the addition of a finder for in# suringthat connection of the plug and socket 15 which will bring the properwires of the threewire system into electrical communication.

Referring to the annexed drawing in which the same parts are indicatedby the lsame respective numbers in the several views, conductors l and20 2 are secured at one end within a brass socket 3 and a brass plug d,respectively. vulcanized to these conductors l and 2, respectively, andto the outer face of the socket 3 and to the inner portion of theplug 0are a pair of insulating 25 resilient casings 0 and 6 which are composedof soft exible rubber. These casings E and t .extend beyond the ends oft e conductors l and 2; in fact, extend outwardly as far as the outerends of the socket 0 and plug 0 so as entirely to 30 cover said socketand plug laterally; The extreme outer end of the soft rubber casing 6 isseparated from a reduced plug end portion 0 by an annular space] whichisadapted to receive the inner end portion 3 of the socket Il and areduced male "5 portion `0 extendlngfrom the body portion of the rubbercasing 5 and vulcanized to said inner end portion 3 so as to permitthetelescoping together of the two parts of the connecter and theircooperative engagement.' The telescoping portions 40 of the soft rubbercasings 5 and 6 are held together by frictlonal engagement inasmuch asthe outer diameter of the annular recess 1 in the casing B is slightlysmaller thanthe outer diameter ofthe end portion 8 of. the casing 5, theexi'- 45,.

bility of the casing 6, however, permitting the ready telescopingtogether and separation of the casing ends,V whereby an extremelyweatherproof connection is provided between the two casings.

The outside diameter of lthe casing portion 8 is such as to provide asubstantially smooth joint between the contacting ends of the casings 5and 6 when the casings are secured together and `the extreme outer endof the casing 6 contacts 65 with the shoulder 5 of the casing 5. Thewall of the chamber III of the conducting socket 3 is divided intol aplurality of sections by longitudinal slits I0' and the plug portion 9of the member 4 cis centrally subdivided by a slit I', so that Athe plug9 which has a diameter as large or even slightly larger than thediameter of the chamber I0 in the socket 3 will easily enter saidchamber but be held therein very tightlyby reason of the frictionalengagement-of the members 9 and I0. The telescoping portions of thecasings 5 and 6 have a tendency to compress the contractile andexpansible socket portion 3', and consequently tend to press thecomplementary contact elements 3 and 4 together; when these contactelements are connected together. The brass contact elements' 3 and 4,because of their inherent resiliency, also react resiliently on thetelescoping portions of the casings 5 and 5. Hence the connectingportions of the casings and the connecting portions of the contactelements mutually contribute to each others effectiveness. Theconstruction thus far described provides a convenient connecter forfrequent connection and disconnection of two conductors,

Inl order that this improved connecter may be incorporated with andbetween severed conductor ends to provide the advantages hereinbeforeset forth, or two independent conductors so connected, I have providedimproved coupling members for connecting such conductor ends orindependent conductors to the two respective parts of the aforesaidimproved connecter. 'I'hesecoupling improvements are particularly shownin Figure 4. Assume that a conductor II has been severed, the same beingprovided with the usual insulation I2, and that the two extreme endportions I I-' of. the severed ends have been stripped of the insulationI2. The connecter conductors I and 2 are stripped for a, short distanceat their outer ends of their insulating casings 5 and 6, as,

for example, the outer end I of the conductor Y,

I. Then it is the intention to connect the stripped end II' with thestripped conductor end I by means of my improved coupling member. Twoconducting cores, I3 and I1, of substantially the same diameter, areformed with bores I4 and I8, respectively. 4adapted to receive thestripped conductor ends II.' and I. The core I3 is formed with athreaded bore I5, and the core I1 is formed with a cooperating threadedstemJG. These cores I3 and I1 are secured to gether and there is thenvulcanized to the core I 'I a soft, pliable, rubber sleeve 2|, whichsleeve is of substantially the diameter of the adjacent l portions ofVthesoft rubber casings 5 and 6, and

hence, of considerablysmaller .diameter than the outside diameter of thecores I3 and l1. This Vsleeve 2| can be turnedback upon itself, as shownin Figure 4, to permit the engagement, or dis' engagement', of the stemIB and the bore I5 and, when the cores I3 and I1 have been securedtogether, .by the engagement of the stem I6 and bore I 5, thefolded-overpart of the sleeve 2I can be turned back into the condition shown at theleft-hand end of Figure 2 and the coupling conducting cores thus encasedin a'weather-proof and water-proof cover. Theconstruction describedapplies to the left-hand end of Figure 1 and the same construction andoperation provides a coupling member between the other severed end II'of ,conductor II and the stripped end of conductor 2. When suchacoupling member has been secured to the two endsl of the severedconductor II, the extreme inner ends of these coupling members beingformed into co-operating connecter parts, such as shown in Figure 5, Ihave provided for the proper connections of the severed ends of theconductor, or two independent conductors, to the desired batteries,etc., and for the ready and convenient plugging in and detachment ofmoisture-proof connecter parts.

If it is desired to incorporate these improvements in multiple conductorsystems, such .as a three-wire system illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, Iprovide a finder plug I9 and a co-operating socket 20 by means of atongue and groove arrangement, for instance, whereby the two parts ofthe connecter can not be secured vtogether Without necessarilyconnecting in each instance those two'terminals which are intended to bein communication with each other. l

What I claim is:

l. A connecter for electrical conductors comprising two interttingcasings formed of resilient waterproof material and an electricalcontact element embedded in each casing, the electrical contact elementsengaging each other when'the casings are tted together, one casing beingformed with a male portion having an external surface of revolution, theother casing being formed with a female portionv having an internalsurface of revolution which corresponds in shape and size to saidexternal surface of revolution of said male portion and which intertstherewith so as to effect a waterproof connection of said casings, andthe external surfaces of said casings being so formed'that when thecasings are fitted together the connecter has itsvexternal surfacecontinuously smooth lengthwise of the connecter.

2. A connecter for electrical conductors comprising two waterproofcasings, a male electrical contact element carried in one casing, acontractible and expansible female` electrical contact element carriedin the other casing and adapted to receive and to engage said malecontact `ele ment when the casings are connected together, and meansforconnecting said casings with a fluid tight seal and also for exerting aforce tending to compress said female contact element on said fresilient portions having complementary sealing surfaces, the externalsurface of the first-mentioned resilient portion being peripherallysomewhat larger than fthe internal surface of the other resilientportion before the casings are connected together, and said external andinternal surfaces being in close engagement about said )contact elementswhen the casings are connected together. Y

3. A connecter for electrical conductors com--I prising two interfittingcasings formed of resilient' waterproof material and an Aelectricalcontact element embedded in each casing, one casing being formed with amale portion extending from the body of the casing, the other casingbeing formed with a female portion havingan internal sur- Lfacewhichcorresponds 4in shape and size to the external surface of said maleportion and which inter-nts therewith so as to effect a waterproofconnection of said casings, and the external surfaces of said casingsbeing so formed that when the casings are fitted together the externalsurface of the connecter is continuously smooth lengthwise of theconnecter.

4. Alconnecter for electrical conductors having waterproof insulatingcovering, said connecter comprising .two soft rubber casings, aconducting plug secured within one of( said casings, a conductingrsocketsecured within the other casing and adapted to receive said plug 'forelectrical contact therewith when the' casings are fitted together', andconductors secured to saidl plug and socket, respectively, and extendingthrough said casings, one of said casings having an open recessed endand the other casing having a pro-- Jecting eid which has an externalsurface cor'.

responding in shape and-size to the internal surf ace of said recessedend so thata close waterproof detachable telescopic connection of thetwo casings is' had, said casings at their telescopic connection beingsubstantially larger in crosssection than the covering ofthe conductorsand at the liunction of their-external 'surfaces being of the sameexternal shape 2and size, 'said casingsv when connected together havingan entirely interntting sea smooth external surface and having portionsdiminishing in cross-section toward the'covering of the conductors insuch manner that the connecter throughout its length has al smoothflowing external surface, and said casings having waterproof connectionwith the coveringsfof their respective conductors. f

\ 5. A connecter for electrical conductors comprising two conductors,soft rubber casings hav-y ing waterproofl connection with saidconductors'. one end of each casing extending. beyond one end of aconductor and being formed with a longl` tudinal recess, a conductingplug secured in the recessof one casing and having electrical contactwith one conductor, and a conducting socket. secured in the recess ofthe other casing and` havingv electrical contact with the otherconductor, said socket being adapted to have electrical contact withsaid plug, said casings having, telescopic surfaces adapted to effect awaterproof detachable connection of said casings, the externaltelescopic surface of one calling` corresponding in shape and size tothe internal telef scopic surface of the other casing, and the cas` ingsbeingso formed that when ntted together they provide a-continuouslysmoothiiowing ex ternal surface lengthwise of the connecter. 6. Aconnecter for electrical conductors comprising two conductors, a softrubber casing vulcanized to each conductor, one end of each casing.extending beyond one end of the conductor vulcanized thereto and beingformed with a longitudinal'recess, a conducting plug vulcanized to oneof the' casings in the recess thereof and having electricalcontact withthe 'conductor vulcanized thereto, and a conductingr socket,

vulcanized to v thereof andhaving electrical contact with the conductorvulcanized thereto, the extending end of one casing being of smallerexternal diameter than the extending end of the other ycasing and beingadapted t0 fit telescoplcally therein with a' close waterproof flt tosecure the casings to.

gether, said socket being adapted/ to receive said plug in electricalcontact when the casings are secuced together, andsaid connecter havinga ,length '1.-A connecter for electrical conductors `corn- L prising twocasings detachably connected together and contact hlements which' arecarried by said casings and w ch are detachablyconnected together.'said- .having means forming a nuid tight seal about saidcontact-elements and ,also tending to compress said contact elementstogether, said means including telescopically lsurfaces. at least' oneof which is resilient, 'and said casings when connectedttogether having.a continuously smoothy external surface.

8. A connecter for electrical-conductors comprislng two fcaslngs adaptedto be` detachably connected together and complementary co'ntact elementswhichare carried by said casings and which are adapted' to interfitresiliently when the casings'are forced together into connectedrelation, one of said contact elements being .resiliently contractibleandsexpansible, said casings having means for forming a uid tight sealabout Lthe contact elements when the casings are connected together,and' said means including close'- ly interiltting resilient rubberportions tending to T3' the other casing inf the recess compress thecomplementary contact elements X in closely interfittingsrelation whenconnected together f and having' complementary resilient' sealingsurfaces. v

9. A. connecter for electrical conductors comprising two waterproofcasings. complementary FRANK ICAR'QUART.4

1o" smooth flowing-external surface throughout its

